Archive for the ‘Mercedes’ Category

We have been hearing stories and unfounded reports about AMG working on hybridization for a decade now. It wasn’t until the unveiling of that mad Mercedes-AMG Project One with a hybrid system, that we figured out just how serious the Affalterbach speed gurus were. As AMG CEO, Tobias Moers once said, “We cannot change the future. And the future does bear the name of electricity.” Now, I am telling you all this because only days ago, Mercedes-AMG registered a new trademark at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It is an AMG – the C 53. And it will, by all indicators, be a hybrid.

We have been hearing stories and unfounded reports about AMG working on hybridization for a decade now. It wasn’t until the unveiling of that mad Mercedes-AMG Project One with a hybrid system, that we figured out just how serious the Affalterbach speed gurus were. As AMG CEO, Tobias Moers once said, “We cannot change the future. And the future does bear the name of electricity.” Now, I am telling you all this because only days ago, Mercedes-AMG registered a new trademark at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It is an AMG – the C 53. And it will, by all indicators, be a hybrid.

The Mercedes Concept EQA is shaping up to be one of Mercedes’ most important models in its recent history. Not only is it acting as the foundation of the German automaker’s all-electric onslaught, but it’s also turning into the leading man on Merc’s EQ-related promotional content.

The latest example of the Concept EQA’s star power can be seen in this new commercial featuring the absolutely stunning concept vehicle on a nice joy ride along picturesque Sicily. The ad doesn’t really tell us anything about the Concept EQA other than the fact that it looks amazing with all those carefully placed light signatures throughout its body. When they’re all lit, the concept takes an entirely new look that’s an absolute feast to the eyes. Mercedes even calls the ones located on the EQA’s flanks “illuminated arabesques,” which sounds like a phrase the company cooked up but is no less awesome to digest.

Beyond its gorgeous looks, the EQA’s role as a precursor to Mercedes’ full-fledged all-electric lineup is well-established. It may take the form of a hatchback, but it does give us a good look at what we can expect out of the German automaker’s future EQ lineup. The concept, among other things, gets batteries of various outputs, powering a motor in the front and back with as much as 200 kilowatts of power on tap. That gives the concept as much as 368 pound-feet of torque and the ability to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under five seconds to go with a range of 250 miles.

There’s a lot to be excited about as far as the Mercedes’ EQ family is concerned. That should be the case because Daimler is spending almost $600 million to get its Smart production facility up-to-speed with the requirements needed to build the production versions of its all-electric EQ lineup, beginning with the EQC electric crossover, the EQA, and the rest of Mercedes’ future electric lineup.

But before any of that, enjoy the Mercedes Concept EQA going out and about in one of the most beautiful places in Italy. If that doesn’t get you excited about the possibilities, I don’t know what will.

Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler could be in hot water from Germany’s road vehicle authority KBA after the agency found five “illegal switch-off devices” in the automaker’s car engines. According to a report from German newspaper Bild, more than 1 million vehicles are suspected to be affected, most of which make up Daimler’s new fleet of Euro 6 diesel vehicles.

Launched in 2016, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class introduced an impressive amount of new technology for the brand, including a semi-autonomous feature and a steering wheel that can detect swipes like a smartphone. The nameplate expanded rapidly to include efficient four-cylinder models, a hybrid, diesels, and powerful AMG variants. Come 2018, and the sedan gains a mild hybrid AMG version under the “E53” badge. Set to replace the AMG E43 for the 2019 model years, it slots between the E400 4Matic and the full-blown AMG E63.

The sedan is the third E-Class model to make the switch to EQ hybrid technology. Mercedes-Benz began the overhaul with the coupe and cabriolet versions, which were unveiled at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show in January. The technology first debuted on the CLS in 2017, but the four-door version is not as powerful. A similar setup can be found in the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, which also offers a 53-badged variant. So what sets the AMG E53 Sedan apart from the standard E-Class and the hardcore AMG E63? Let’s find out in the review below.

Unveiled in 2014 as a spiritual successor for the SLS AMG and a competitor for the Porsche 911, the Mercedes-AMG GT has already spawned a number of different versions and even received a facelift in 2017. Come 2018, and the AMG GT family expanded yet again with the addition of the AMG GT S Roadster. The third roadster in the lineup, the GT S Roadster is also the ninth member of the two-door GT family, joining four coupes and two race-spec models. With Mercedes-Benz having also launched three four-door model in 2018, the AMG GT family now includes no fewer than 12 cars!

Much like in the coupe range, the AMG GT S Roadster slots above the AMG GT and below the GT C Roadster. The latter is very similar to the GT R coupe, but with a slightly less powerful engine. Much like the hard-top model, the GT S Roadster has a sportier drivetrain and also benefits from the facelift that added 15 horsepower and ten pound-feet of torque to the GT S coupe in 2017. Granted, the AMG-GT S Roadster is far from new, but it enables Mercedes-Benz to provide its customers with a choice of three open-top two-seaters.

In one lane we have the 2018 Devel Sixty, and in the other, the Mercedes-AMG GT S. The Sixty delivers 720 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque from a 6.7-liter turbodiesel while the GT S delivers a cool 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It’s a tough showdown on paper considering the three-axle Sixty is worlds heavier than the GT but what happens when they actually lineup next to each other? Well, let’s just say that the GT S limps home with a tear in its eye. Oh, and for the record, it was a bad day for Mercedes as the G-Wagon also had a go at the Sixty and it didn’t stand a chance either. With that in mind, go ahead and check out the video below

You wouldn’t exactly be wrong if you said the X-Class is just a rebadged Nissan. In fact, it really is just a rebadged Nissan – the Nissan NP300, to be exact. Be that as it may, Merc managed to do a little bit to make it its own by adding in your traditional Mercedes styling cues like those sleek headlights, that grille, and let’s not forget the unmistakable front fascia that literally screams Mercedes. Of course, the interior is all Nissan too, but there are some Mercedes DNA in the mix there too. Under the hood, you’ll find one of four engines – two four-cylinder diesels, one V-6 diesel, and one gasoline-powered four-banger. All can be had with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic, save for the V-6 which forces you to take the auto in exchange for a full-time four-wheel drive system. With that in mind (and despite the fact that it’s just a Nissan wearing a Mercedes costume,) we’ve decided the X-Class deserves a little time as Wallpaper of the day. We’ve picked out our favorite, but we’ve also left a gallery down at the bottom if you want to take a few more.

The Mercedes SLC came about as a replacement for the SLK – a model that experiences sales beyond the 600,000 mark over it’s near 20 years of life. The SLC came to take its place sporting a lot of the same C-Class DNA of its predecessor along with a four-cylinder engine that was good for 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It might not sound like a lot on paper, but the little roadster could hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, a commanding figure for a vehicle of its size. Of course, Mercedes also added an AMG SLC43 to the lineup as well, which brought a 3.0-liter V-6 into the mix. It delivered 362 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. It could hit 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. But, I digress. We’re here because we’ve selected the SLC as our wallpaper of the day and we want you to give it some desktop love too. We have hand-picked our favorite wallpaper but included a gallery below if you want a little something different. Go ahead and pick out your favorite!

The AMG GT 4-Door Coupe may be little more than a slightly revised Mercedes CLS with some extra power, but it’s been received pretty well across the board and is considered a stand-alone AMG model. With all of the hype surrounding the car and AMG fanboys begging Mercedes to take their money, it should come as no surprise that AMG is set to offer the 4-Door in Edition 1 trim. It’s said to offer extra individualization and is based on the GT 63 S 4Matic+ — the range topper of the 4-Door lineup. It includes a number of aerodynamic enhancements to go with some exterior extras and some finer interior appointments. So, let’s find out what the Edition 1 is all about.

The AMG GT 4-Door Coupe may be little more than a slightly revised Mercedes CLS with some extra power, but it’s been received pretty well across the board and is considered a stand-alone AMG model. With all of the hype surrounding the car and AMG fanboys begging Mercedes to take their money, it should come as no surprise that AMG is set to offer the 4-Door in Edition 1 trim. It’s said to offer extra individualization and is based on the GT 63 S 4Matic+ — the range topper of the 4-Door lineup. It includes a number of aerodynamic enhancements to go with some exterior extras and some finer interior appointments. So, let’s find out what the Edition 1 is all about.

Most people never get the chance to get behind the wheel of a car like the Mercedes-AMG GT R the Porsche 911 GT3, or the Ferrari 812 Superfast, let alone drive one on a daily basis. That means that it’s hard for us to understand or comprehend the outright cost of daily driving one of these works of art. Even doing something like buying new tires can set you back the cost of a Honda Civic and you better hope you don’t get a ding or a scratch in the paint because you’re going to pony up big time to make it look right again. Even simple things like oil changes and filter changes cost fast in excess of what you and I are actually used to. With that in mind, take a look at the video below and listen to what Shmee has to say about his experience with daily driving high-end cars like the AMG GT R and 911 GT3. It will certainly put things into perspective for you!

Mercedes previewed the CLA-Class with the Concept Style Coupe, then a year later showed up at the Detroit Auto Show with the very first CLA-Class – a new entry-level model and the true baby of the Mercedes lineup. It’s essentially as CLS sized down a bit but features that trending four-door coupe body style that we’ve had to get used to. With that said, the CLA has been around for a while now, and 2020 will be the mark for the second-gen model to hit the market. That means it will debut in 2019, but that doesn’t matter because we’re already getting a good look at it now, and it looks very much like its bigger brother, the CLS. It will ride on the same platform as the new Mercedes A-Class and will even get the same engine lineup – including a pair of over-powered and brawny-for-their-size AMG models.

Update 07/25/2018: The Mercedes CLA has finally dropped some of its camo and was found playing on the Nurburgring. There’s still some time before it makes its debut but check out the spy shots section below to see the latest developments.

Shown in 2017, the four-door version of the A-Class hatchback morphed into a production model at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. Unveiled with a slightly longer wheelbase than usual, the A-Class Sedan will soon become a global vehicle and will cross the pond to the U.S. to take on the Audi A3 Sedan. Like most Mercedes-Benz models, the standard A-Class Sedan will be followed by an AMG model. Likely to be called the AMG A45 Sedan, the beefed-up four-door will compete against the Audi RS3 Sedan, currently the only performance-rated vehicle in this niche. The AMG model is still at least a year away, but we may already know what it looks like thanks to a new rendering from X-Tomi Design.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is unique among all Mercedes models. It’s the only one of its kind in the German automaker’s lineup that’s able to balance an off-road identity with sporty and luxury goods surrounding it. It could also evolve into a model that plays into those two latter characteristics. That’s the word coming out of
G-Class product chief Dr. Gunnar Guthenke, who hinted that a hotter S version of the Mercedes-AMG G 63 and a Maybach G-Class could be in the works.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is unique among all Mercedes models. It’s the only one of its kind in the German automaker’s lineup that’s able to balance an off-road identity with sporty and luxury goods surrounding it. It could also evolve into a model that plays into those two latter characteristics. That’s the word coming out of
G-Class product chief Dr. Gunnar Guthenke, who hinted that a hotter S version of the Mercedes-AMG G 63 and a Maybach G-Class could be in the works.

Okay, I don’t know what the guys over at Mercedes were smoking when the greenlit the design of the Maybach Ultimate Luxury SUV (Not that it’s an SUV, really) but just like everyone else in the world we’re not to keen on the overall design. In fairness, the front end isn’t bad, but the overall shape is about as ugly as they come. Well, Peisert design was a bit disappointed too, and that’s exactly why you’re looking at the rendering here. Peisert Design too the new Maybach and reshaped the rear end to make it look like a true-to-life SUV. And, it looks amazing.

In the end, Mercedes should take some notes from the rendering here. After seeing all the horrible comments all over the internet about the new Ultimate Luxury “SUV,” it really makes you wonder how things are going over there at headquarters. Either way, feast your eyes on what the Ultimate Luxury SUV should have been, then try to forget that it doesn’t exist in this form.

Set to go on sale in the second half of 2018, the A-Class L sedan is produced at produced at Beijing Benz Automotive (BBAC), a joint venture between Daimler and BAIC Motor. While the A-Class L won’t be sold outside China, a regular wheelbase model will follow in the second half of the year to take on the Audi A3 Sedan in Europe and the United States. And AMG variant is also likely, but until that happens, let’s find out what sets the A-Class Sedan apart from its hatchback sibling.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-Benz A-Class L Sedan.

Mercedes decided to give the new but old-looking G-Class the AMG treatment for 2018, effectively bringing the AMG G63 into the fold. The hand-built 4.0-liter takes on the “Hot-V” design and delivers a cool 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed auto handles shifting duties and routes power to the full-time 4WD system. Despite the fact that it is essentially the boxiest vehicle on sale today, it can manage to hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds and will top out at 149 mph, if you’re brave enough to pin the accelerator to the floor for that long. It’s not a cheap model, though, so I’m sure some of you fantasize about it on a daily. So, why not snag up one or two of these hand-picked wallpapers to spruce up your home or work desktop?

It doesn’t take a genius to see that the Chinese-specific A-Class L has a serious resemblance to the current-gen C-Class. It’s so similar, in fact, that it looks like a facelifted version of the C-Class inside and out, albeit with some upper-trim-level standard features and a slightly (and I do mean slightly) smaller presence. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you, but it’s far from what you would call a compact, despite the fact that Mercedes is boasting it as the first and only long-wheelbase compact car in the Chinese market. Sorry folks, but this is just a C-Class with smaller overhangs. Let’s look at things a little closer.